What is the Delirium Bibliography? The searchable Delirium Bibliography page is one of our most popular features, allowing you to quickly gain access to the literature on delirium and acute care of older persons. It is primarily intended for clinicians and researchers interested in exploring these topics. The NIDUS team keeps it updated for you on a monthly basis!
How to Search for Articles: Search by author, title, year, and/or keywords. Each article is indexed by keywords taken from MEDLINE and other relevant databases. Click on the title of the article to read the abstract, journal, etc.
Reference Information
- Title
- A Critical Reappraisal of Haloperidol for Delirium Management in the Intensive Care Unit: Perspective from Psychiatry
- Authors
- Jiang, S. Gunther, M.
- Year
- 2025
- Journal
- J Clin Med
- Abstract
Delirium is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome with multifactorial pathophysiology, encompassing a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms, and its management remains a significant challenge in critical care. Although often managed with antipsychotics, like haloperidol, current research has predominantly focused on dopamine dysregulation as the primary driver of delirium, overlooking its broader neuroanatomical and neurochemical underpinnings. This has led to a majority of research focusing on haloperidol as a treatment for intensive care unit (ICU) delirium. Our review critically evaluates the role of haloperidol in ICU delirium management, particularly in light of recent large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that have primarily focused on delirium-free days and mortality as the primary endpoints. These studies highlight an limited understanding of the true nature of delirium treatment, which requires a broader, neuropsychiatric approach. We argue that future research should shift focus to neuropsychiatric symptoms such as agitation and psychosis and explore the clinical and functional benefits of reducing these distressing symptoms. Additionally, the stratification of delirium by subtypes and etiology, the enhancement of detection tools, and the adoption of multi-intervention and multi-disciplinary care approaches should be prioritized. Despite the methodological flaws in these studies, the findings support the safety of haloperidol in the ICU setting, with minimal risk of adverse events, particularly cardiac and neuropsychiatric. Moving forward, delirium research must integrate modern neuroscientific understanding and adopt more multi-disciplinary input and nuanced, patient-centered approaches to truly advance clinical care and outcomes.
- PMID
PMID: 39860443
PMCID: PMC11766117
- Keywords
acute brain failure antipsychotics critical care delirium dopamine encephalopathy haloperidol intensive care unit psychopharmacology
- Page(s)
- Volume
- Issue
| Title | Authors | Journal | Year | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effects of massage on outcomes of adult intensive care unit patients: a systematic review. | Jagan, S. Park, T. Papathanassoglou, E. | Nurs Crit Care | 2019 |
Complementary and alternative therapies |
| Perioperative Dexmedetomidine Reduces Delirium in Elderly Patients after Lung Cancer Surgery. | Huyan, T. Hu, X. Peng, H. Zhu, Z. Li, Q. Zhang, W. | Psychiatr Danub | 2019 | |
| The Oslo Study of Clonidine in Elderly Patients with Delirium; LUCID: a randomised placebo-controlled trial. | Hov, K. R. Neerland, B. E. Undseth, O. Bruun Bratholm Wyller, V. MacLullich, A. M. J. Qvigstad, E. Skovlund, E. Wyller, T. B. | Int J Geriatr Psychiatry | 2019 |
Delirium treatment |
| Delirium and Alzheimer disease: A proposed model for shared pathophysiology. | Fong, T. G. Vasunilashorn, S. M. Libermann, T. Marcantonio, E. R. Inouye, S. K. | Int J Geriatr Psychiatry | 2019 |
Alzheimer disease |
| Development and validation of a dynamic delirium prediction rule in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Units (DYNAMIC-ICU): A prospective cohort study. | Fan, H. Ji, M. Huang, J. Yue, P. Yang, X. Wang, C. Ying, W. | International journal of nursing studies | 2019 |
aged |
| Delirium and cognitive impairment among older patients in Norwegian emergency departments. | Evensen, S. Saltvedt, I. Ranhoff, A. H. Myrstad, M. Myrstad, C. Mellingsaeter, M. Wang-Hansen, M. S. Neerland, B. E. | Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen | 2019 | |
| Motor activity across delirium motor subtypes in geriatric patients assessed using body-worn sensors: a Norwegian cross-sectional study. | Evensen, S. Bourke, A. K. Lydersen, S. Sletvold, O. Saltvedt, I. Wyller, T. B. Taraldsen, K. | BMJ Open | 2019 |
accelerometer |
| Factors Associated With Delirium in Surgical Intensive Care Unit Patients Treated With Supplemental Melatonin: A Case-Cohort Study. | Cusimano, J. M. Welch, S. Perez-Protto, S. Lam, S. | Clin Neuropharmacol | 2019 | |
| Intraoperative blood transfusion predicts postoperative delirium among older patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery: A prospective cohort study. | Chou, M. Y. Wang, Y. C. Peng, L. N. Liang, C. K. Chu, C. S. Liao, M. C. Lin, Y. T. Hsu, C. J. Chen, L. K. | Int J Geriatr Psychiatry | 2019 |
aged |
| Postoperative delirium in critically ill surgical patients: incidence, risk factors, and predictive scores. | Chaiwat, O. Chanidnuan, M. Pancharoen, W. Vijitmala, K. Danpornprasert, P. Toadithep, P. Thanakiattiwibun, C. | BMC Anesthesiology | 2019 |
Intensive care unit (ICU) |
| Differential Clinical Characteristics, Management, and Outcome of Delirium among Ward Compared with ICU Patients. | Canet, E. Amjad, S. Robbins, R. Lewis, J. Matalanis, M. Jones, D. Bellomo, R. | Intern Med J | 2019 |
Agitation |
| Vitamin D levels and risk of delirium: A mendelian randomization study in the UK Biobank. | Bowman, K. Jones, L. Pilling, L. C. Delgado, J. Kuchel, G. A. Ferrucci, L. Fortinsky, R. H. Melzer, D. | Neurology | 2019 | |
| Single-bed rooms in a geriatric ward prevent delirium in older patients. | Blandfort, S. Gregersen, M. Rahbek, K. Juul, S. Damsgaard, E. M. | Aging Clin Exp Res | 2019 |
Delirium |
| Drug Prescription and Delirium in Older Inpatients: Results From the Nationwide Multicenter Italian Delirium Day 2015-2016. | Aloisi, G. Marengoni, A. Morandi, A. Zucchelli, A. Cherubini, A. Mossello, E. Bo, M. Di Santo, S. G. Mazzone, A. Trabucchi, M. Cappa, S. Fimognari, F. L. Incalzi, R. A. Gareri, P. Perticone, F. Campanini, M. Montorsi, M. Latronico, N. Zambon, A. Bellelli, | J Clin Psychiatry | 2019 | |
| Patient Safety Incidents Describing Patient Falls in Critical Care in North West England Between 2009 and 2017. | Thomas, A. N. Balmforth, J. E. | J Patient Saf | 2019 | |
| Have you SCAND MMe Please? A framework to prevent harm during acute hospitalisation of older persons: A retrospective audit. | Redley, B. Baker, T. | Journal of Clinical Nursing | 2019 |
acute disease |
| Low-Dose Ketamine Infusion to Decrease Postoperative Delirium for Spinal Fusion Patients. | Plyler, S. S. Muckler, V. C. Titch, J. F. Gupta, D. K. Rice, A. N. | J Perianesth Nurs | 2019 |
3d-cam |
| Nurses' experiences of caring for older patients afflicted by delirium in a neurological department. | Kristiansen, S. Konradsen, H. Beck, M. | Journal of Clinical Nursing | 2019 |
adult |
| Association of Delirium Response and Safety of Pharmacological Interventions for the Management and Prevention of Delirium: A Network Meta-analysis. | Wu, Y. C. Tseng, P. T. Tu, Y. K. Hsu, C. Y. Liang, C. S. Yeh, T. C. Chen, T. Y. Chu, C. S. Matsuoka, Y. J. Stubbs, B. Carvalho, A. F. Wada, S. Lin, P. Y. Chen, Y. W. Su, K. P. | JAMA Psychiatry | 2019 | |
| Effect of electroencephalography-guided anesthetic administration on postoperative delirium among older adults undergoing major surgery the engages randomized clinical trial. | Wildes, T. S. Mickle, A. M. Abdallah, A. B. Maybrier, H. R. Oberhaus, J. Budelier, T. P. Kronzer, A. McKinnon, S. L. Park, D. Torres, B. A. Graetz, T. J. Emmert, D. A. Palanca, B. J. Goswami, S. Jordan, K. Lin, N. Fritz, B. A. Stevens, T. W. Jacobsohn, E. | JAMA | 2019 |
NCT02241655 |
| Perioperative Epidural Use and Risk of Delirium in Surgical Patients: A Secondary Analysis of the PODCAST Trial. | Vlisides, P. E. Thompson, A. Kunkler, B. S. Maybrier, H. R. Avidan, M. S. Mashour, G. A. | Anesth Analg | 2019 | |
| Effect of Intravenous Acetaminophen vs Placebo Combined with Propofol or Dexmedetomidine on Postoperative Delirium among Older Patients Following Cardiac Surgery: The DEXACET Randomized Clinical Trial. | Subramaniam, B. Shankar, P. Shaefi, S. Mueller, A. O'Gara, B. Banner-Goodspeed, V. Gallagher, J. Gasangwa, D. Patxot, M. Packiasabapathy, S. Mathur, P. Eikermann, M. Talmor, D. Marcantonio, E. R. | JAMA | 2019 |
NCT02546765 |
| The use of a screening scale improves the recognition of delirium in older patients after cardiac surgery - a retrospective observational study. | Smulter, N. Claesson Lingehall, H. Gustafson, Y. Olofsson, B. Engstrom, K. G. | J Clin Nurs | 2019 |
Assessments scales |
| Incidence and predictors of postoperative delirium in the older acute care surgery population: a prospective study. | Saravana-Bawan, B. Warkentin, L. M. Rucker, D. Carr, F. Churchill, T. A. Khadaroo, R. G. | Canadian Journal of Surgery | 2019 |
aged |
| Association of Duration of Surgery With Postoperative Delirium Among Patients Receiving Hip Fracture Repair. | Ravi, B. Pincus, D. Choi, S. Jenkinson, R. Wasserstein, D. N. Redelmeier, D. A. | JAMA Netw Open | 2019 | |
| Depression Predicts Delirium After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Independent of Cognitive Impairment and Cerebrovascular Disease: An Analysis of the Neuropsychiatric Outcomes After Heart Surgery Study. | Oldham, M. A. Hawkins, K. A. Lin, I. H. Deng, Y. Hao, Q. Scoutt, L. M. Yuh, D. D. Lee, H. B. | American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry | 2019 |
aged |
| Accuracy of the Delirium Observational Screening Scale (DOS) as a screening tool for delirium in patients with advanced cancer. | Neefjes, E. C. W. van der Vorst, Mjdl Boddaert, M. S. A. Verdegaal, Batt Beeker, A. Teunissen, S. C. C. Beekman, A. T. F. Zuurmond, W. W. A. Berkhof, J. Verheul, H. M. W. | BMC Cancer | 2019 |
Delirium |
| The impact of intravenous isotonic and hypotonic maintenance fluid on the risk of delirium in adult postoperative patients: retrospective before-after observational study. | Nagae, M. Egi, M. Furushima, N. Okada, M. Makino, S. Mizobuchi, S. | J Anesth | 2019 |
Delirium |
| Association between delirium, adverse clinical events and functional outcomes in older patients admitted to rehabilitation settings after a hip fracture: A multicenter retrospective cohort study. | Morandi, A. Mazzone, A. Bernardini, B. Suardi, T. Prina, R. Pozzi, C. Gentile, S. Trabucchi, M. Bellelli, G. | Geriatrics & Gerontology International | 2019 |
aged |
| Handover of anesthesia care is associated with an increased risk of delirium in elderly after major noncardiac surgery: results of a secondary analysis. | Liu, G. Y. Su, X. Meng, Z. T. Cui, F. Li, H. L. Zhu, S. N. Wang, D. X. | J Anesth | 2019 |
Delirium |
| Undiagnosed delirium is frequent and difficult to predict: Results from a prevalence survey of a tertiary hospital. | Lange, P. W. Lamanna, M. Watson, R. Maier, A. B. | J Clin Nurs | 2019 |
Undiagnosed delirium |